New York – The US Open’s opening day on Monday featured two of tennis’s biggest stories: defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka both stepping onto the hard courts with the goal of securing a third straight title.
Alcaraz faces Roman Safiullin in a familiar clash
Spain’s 23‑year‑old prodigy, world No. 3, opened his campaign against Russia’s Roman Safiullin. The two met once before on a hard surface at the 2023 US Open, where Safiullin handed Alcaraz his only hard‑court loss to date. Alcaraz later avenged that defeat at the Paris Olympics on clay, but the upcoming match revives a rivalry that many fans still recall.
Alcaraz, who captured three of the last four Grand Slam titles before a wrist injury forced him out of the French Open and Wimbledon, said he is “ready to compete the way I always have.” He added, “I didn’t make the decision lightly – I did whatever it took to be prepared.” The Spaniard also partnered with Serena Williams in mixed doubles, reaching the quarter‑finals and adding another headline to his busy tournament schedule.
When asked about his mindset, Alcaraz emphasized process over outcome: “I’m not going to set a limit for myself. I don’t want to focus on a specific result. I want to focus on the process we’ve gone through. Just go out there, enjoy it and feel good.”
Sabalenka eyes historic three‑peat against Camila Osorio
Belarusian world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka entered the women’s draw to defend the title she won in 2024 and repeated in 2025. A victory would make her the 12th woman ever to win three consecutive US Open crowns, a feat not achieved since Serena Williams from 2012‑2014.
Sabalenka’s recent form has been uneven. She has not reached a WTA final since March and suffered round‑of‑16 exits at both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open this month. “It wasn’t the best period… I’ve been dealing with several things. But who cares, right? Yeah, I didn’t perform my best,” she told reporters.
Her first‑round opponent, 22‑year‑old Camila Osorio of Colombia, will look to capitalize on any lapses. Osorio, a rising talent, earned a place in the main draw after a strong showing in the South American circuit.
Other notable first‑round matchups
Fans can also look forward to Naomi Osaka’s return to the tournament, slated to face Anastasia Zakharova in the Arthur Ashe Stadium early session. Osaka, a four‑time Grand Slam champion, described her participation as a “side hustle” that she balances with motherhood.
American hopeful Ben Shelton will open against Dutch veteran Tallon Griekspoor, while the men’s draw also features a clash between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils, and a women’s showdown between Iga Swiatek and Wang Xiyu.
Schedule and order of play
The Monday order of play begins at 11:30 a.m. ET on the main courts, with Sabalenka vs. Osorio and Safiullin vs. Alcaraz slated for the Arthur Ashe Stadium slot at 1:30 p.m. ET. Additional matches will follow across the venue’s secondary courts, offering a full day of high‑stakes tennis for fans both in New York and watching worldwide.
As the tournament unfolds, the narratives of redemption, perseverance, and the pursuit of historic milestones will shape the early rounds, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable US Open.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
